May 17, 2005 , 2005
Kamloops Daily News



As British Columbians go to the polls today, Conservative
leader Stephen Harper is scheming to bring down the federal
government and send us to the polls again this summer.  It's
a dumb idea.

Canadians, especially British Columbians, don't want another
vote.  They want this federal government to work.

Conservatives say that this is normal - - voters don't like
voting but will do their democratic duty when required. 
This argument misses the point.

It's not just that we are tired of voting, or that it's
inconvenient.  We don't want to go the polls again because
we want this minority government to work.  Voters sent a
clear message one year ago: we want none of your parties to
hold majority power and we want you guys to stop your
childish bickering and cooperate for the good of all
Canadians.

For a while, all parties did get along but now the
Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois think they can take
advantage of a weakened government.  If they listen to the
voice of all Canadians, not just their narrow
constituencies, they will get back to work.

Other than more revelations from the Gomery inquiry of what
we already suspected, nothing calls for another election.

Conservative fortunes will not improve as a result of
another election.  Harper's image has not changed, if
anything it's worse.   He seems like a  grim, opportunistic
leader who will do anything to grab power.

Harper also ignores the moderate members of his own party. 
Celebrity Conservative Belinda Stronach suggests that it
would be better to wait until the budget is passed before
bringing down the Liberals.  But her advice has been ignored
as it was when she supported same-sex marriage.

Ms Stronach was considered a political lightweight when
elected a year ago.  Now she demonstrates a savvy that would
move the Conservatives to the middle of the political
spectrum where Canadians would take them seriously.

[Later on the day this column was published, Ms. Stronach 
quit the Conservatives and switched to the Liberals, increasing
the likelihood that the budget would be passed on Thursday.]

In two days, Prime Minister Martin will introduce his budget
to parliament and if it doesn't survive a vote, he will
dissolve government.

As much as Harper would like to bring down this government,
"put it out of its misery" as he puts it, defeating the
budget would be a tactical mistake.  At the same time that
he defeats the government he also defeats the budget,
leaving many critical projects unfunded and undone.

Harper tells us not to worry, that he would reintroduce the
federal budget.  What he doesn't say is that the budget his
government would reintroduce is not the budget that he would
defeat.

That's because the budget has gone significant revisions
since he stopped cooperating.   A Harper influenced budget
included things he wanted such as $4.5 million tax-cuts for
corporations.

Now those tax-cuts to big business are gone and the revised
budget is more to NDP liking.  It addresses social needs of
Canadians such as child care, urban infrastructure,
environmental protection, and labour training.

Anyway, corporations don't need more tax cuts.  They are
awash with cash.  But instead of investing in Canada,
soaring profits are being shipped outside the country in
record amounts, stashed in offshore tax shelters, or paid
out to corporate insiders and shareholders.

Andrew Jackson,  economist for the Canadian Centre for
Policy Alternatives, says that "reputable sources rank
Canada very highly in terms of both tax competitiveness and
overall cost competitiveness."

What Canadians need is an investment in working families and
in education that will fuel our knowledge based economy. 
The revised budget will work towards those goals and still
achieve a balanced budget.

Harper is caught between a rock and hard place of his own
resolve.  If Harper defeats the budget, he will be seen as
putting the interests of fat corporations ahead of common
Canadians.  If he doesn't defeat the government as soon as
possible, he will be seen as dithering - - something he
accuses the prime minister of doing.

At the polls, the Liberals will pay for the sponsorship
scandal.  But the votes will go to the Bloc and the NDP, not
the Conservatives.  The Conservatives might get the most
seats in parliament but it will be another minority
government.  Who will they form an alliance with?  The Bloc?

The best thing that could happen to Harper would be for the
government to survive a non-confidence motion and continue
with the business of the nation.

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